"My daughter is already engaged. I don't want her to leave Kingston City on the eve of fulfilling her engagement."

Viscount Levin Kingston pinched the space between his eyebrows as he replied.

Several figures stood at the entrance of the drawing-room, conversing without any intention of discussing the matter further inside.

Viscount Levin Kingston was simply seeing off the guests from Bonn City.

"Engagements can be broken, you know."

Viscount Blake Bonn acted as though he couldn't detect Viscount Levin Kingston's attempt to decline, or perhaps he simply didn't care about the other man's attitude.

"Forget it, never mind. If you don't believe in Professor Mage's educational standards and don't think he can help Lilith, then there's no point in me saying more. There are plenty of nobles in other city-states queuing up to see Professor Mage, and I've given you ample face, but you don't appreciate it."

Viscount Blake Bonn lamented with a sigh.

"...That's not what I meant. I deeply respect the educators at the Royal Protos Academy of Magic."

Viscount Levin Kingston suppressed his impatience and annoyance, glanced at Professor Mage, and spoke.

In this extraordinary period for the Empire, Snowdrift Province had been isolated as an independent entity, cut off by the Northern Border Province and Box Mountain Province on either side.

Now, not only were communication and transportation problematic, but there was also the threat of the Ghost Party.

If several city-states joined forces to ostracize one, it would be disastrous, potentially making it a target for the Ghost Party. Without being able to seek assistance from other provinces or neighboring city-states, annihilation wouldn't be impossible.

Clearly, many nobles from other city-states were doing their utmost to curry favor with this Professor Mage, hoping to receive preferential treatment at the Royal Protos Academy of Magic in the future.

Viscount Bonn, who had a good relationship with Mage, had now evidently become the leader among many nobles.

Although Viscount Levin Kingston harbored doubts about Professor Mage's true abilities, he dared not speculate recklessly.

In fact, by now, with Viscount Bonn occupying a position supported by many nobles, it no longer mattered whether Mage was genuine or not.

It could be said that this was a blatant scheme. Anyone who dared to question Viscount Bonn's high position would be swiftly dealt with by Bonn, who would marshal the strength of others to eliminate that person.

"Lilith, don't worry. Professor Mage is my teacher now. He won't make things difficult for you."

The handsome, tall young man behind Viscount Blake Bonn, namely Young Master Dean Bonn, comforted Lilith.

"..."

Lilith didn't make any comment. Her cold demeanor was as if she wouldn't reveal her true feelings to anyone; she was merely waiting.

"Lilith, is there anything you'd like to say?"

Viscount Levin Kingston turned to look at his daughter and asked.

He always felt that his daughter seemed to be waiting for someone, yet it was difficult to fathom her thoughts.

"I won't marry someone weaker than me."

She said in a detached voice.

Immediately, Young Master Dean Bonn beside her revealed a look of joy, and he intentionally smiled as he glanced at Xia who was on the sofa in the distance.

"With Professor Mage's guidance, I might actually be stronger than Miss Lilith now, you know?"

Young Master Dean Bonn bowed elegantly to Lilith.

It was as if he were inviting her to a competition, wanting to use that to secure his place as her fiancé.

This made Xia finally stand up. He wanted to say something, but he didn't want to embarrass Viscount Levin Kingston, so he held back.

Although Xia was a noble from the South, he had heard of Young Master Dean Bonn's reputation. He was a typical playboy. Rumor had it that he had defiled many commoner girls, but his powerful father had smoothed things over.

Xia wouldn't judge a person based on hearsay. He would only make his judgments based on what he perceived and observed. Just now, when Dean Bonn looked at Lilith, although he pretended to be deeply in love, he couldn't restrain his covetous gaze when he noticed Sid for a moment.

Xia had noticed all of this keenly.

"Oh? Xia Candice, did you want to say something?"

Viscount Blake Bonn turned his unfriendly attention to Xia once more.

He gently patted his wrist, looked the young man up and down for a moment with a smile, and then spoke again,

"How about this, let my son Dean learn something from this descendant of the Candice family. After all, Lilith has said that she doesn't want to marry a weakling, and you should respect your daughter's wishes, shouldn't you?"

He didn't actually care how his son would treat Lilith after he got her, he only instructed him that at least until she gave birth to an heir, he shouldn't go out and cause trouble.

Blake understood that Levin most likely wouldn't remarry. As long as he got Lilith, it wouldn't just be an alliance through marriage, the Kingston family would sooner or later be theirs as well.

"A Third-Order facing a Second-Order, I'm afraid that's not quite appropriate. I think we should at least add some restrictions for both sides."

Viscount Levin Kingston mused.

"Weakness is inherently the problem of the weak. Why should anyone accommodate anyone else?"

Professor Mage spoke coldly.

It was as if he were stating the tradition that their Royal Protos Academy had never changed, brooking no questioning or rebuttal.

This immediately made Viscount Levin Kingston's expression stiffen.

"Indeed... Matters concerning Miss Lilith's happiness should be decided through competition. And the Candice family's strength, it's said, has always been displayed when they hold nothing back. If Mr. Xia truly possesses the strength of the Candice family heads of legend, allowing him to give it his all without reservation, I would accept defeat, even if I lost, with a convinced heart."

Young Master Dean also smiled calmly and smoothed things over from the side.

"I'm afraid..."

"Let's just decide it like this. The loser should never come and see me again."

Before Viscount Levin Kingston could decline again, Lilith had already spoken.

"No problem."

Dean agreed readily, a look of joy on his face. Viscount Blake Bonn, on the other hand, revealed a satisfied smile and looked at Xia on the sofa who couldn't get a word in edgewise.

He was still silent, his head slightly lowered, like a young lion drenched by the rain beside a lake, confused, powerless, and unable to see his own reflection clearly.

In fact, whether Xia agreed or not, this matter had already been decided.

It was simply a choice between giving up proactively and losing badly.

"Xia has come from afar, he must be exhausted. It wouldn't be fair to compete now, let's make it at least three days from now."

Viscount Levin Kingston sighed helplessly, giving Xia a look of deep guilt.

It could only be said that it was fate. In this situation in the Protos Empire, some relationships were destined to be crushed by the wheels of fate.

If nothing else, he could only give Xia some money and let him return to the South. At least he couldn't let anything happen to him.

"Very well, I'll invite more nobles from the province to witness it then. Levin, you mustn't go back on your word."

And so, the group who were about to leave, once again walked out of the drawing-room accompanied by polite words and footsteps.

Lilith glanced at Xia one last time, her lips moved slightly, and then, she turned and left without saying a word.

No one knew what her gaze meant, or what she had told Xia in lip language.

Only Xia was left standing there dumbfounded.

"A formal attire glance back, an unforgettable glimpse, this is the feeling of young love."

Sid leaned back on the sofa, drinking the tart snowfield fruit tea, and said to Ranch next to him.

"Mm."

Ranch merely crossed his arms, his brow furrowed slightly, and nodded with a thoughtful expression.

Cat Boss finally breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Ranch's state.

Actually, Hyperion had repeatedly told Ranch on the journey, absolutely do not casually interfere in other people's love affairs.

Most of the time, he just needed to be an observer, quietly watching.

Even if he really felt he couldn't sit idly by, he should consult the opinions of the people around him more.

He was often perhaps correct, but he wasn't necessarily right.

So, recalling Hyperion's words, Ranch was now in a state of considerable conflict.

(End of Chapter)